Correspondence from Lani Guinier to Prof. Elizabeth Bartholet
Correspondence
October 25, 1985
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Legal Department General, Lani Guinier Correspondence. Correspondence from Lani Guinier to Prof. Elizabeth Bartholet, 1985. fd8c70c3-e892-ee11-be37-6045bdeb8873. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/8a1da662-9984-4cbd-91e9-f6818489002f/correspondence-from-lani-guinier-to-prof-elizabeth-bartholet. Accessed December 04, 2025.
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Lesa,EDfense]H.
October 25, 1985
Prof . Elizabeth Bartholet
Harvard Law School
Cambridge, llass . 02138
Dear BetsY:
At your suggestion, I am writing to outline the basis
for requlsting ; student for the January Term Internship, or
the Spiing teim clinical course: I would like a student to
prepare a research memoranda and to draft a complaint if
ippi'optiate on behalf of tlaggie Bozeman, a black civil rights
a-cti.rist and school teacher in Pickens County who was dis-
missed from her job as the result of a state felony conviction
by an all white jory for "iIIegaI voting." LDF_represented
I'trs. Bozeman in i successful federal habeas challenge to her
conviction. About two years ago a PILRAP student, Larry
Lustberg, prepared an excellent memorandum on selective
prosecution, ln issue in the case, prior to our filing the
ilabeas petition. I attach a coPy of the habeas pgtition,
the disirict judge's memorandum opinion, our brief as appellee
in the court of ippeals, and the llth Circuit's opinion
affirming the district judge's decision vacating her convic-
tion for insufficient evidence.
The student should be prepared to research both Alabama
law and federal law to determine the proper forum and possible
causes of action for challenging Mrs. Bozeman's discharge
from, and seeking reinstatement to, her tenured teaching
position. An action for damages should also be considered.
I short memo on Alabama law governing the right to reinstate-
ment of a public employee is attached. The memo does not
discuss any rights Mrs. Bozeman may have as a black woman
dismissed by an all white school board in a county that is
over 40t bllck. I have included in the materials appended
to this letter a newsPaper clipping reporting the school
board's decision not to reinstate Mrs. Bozeman-
Contributions are deductible for U.S. income tar purposes
The NAACp LEGAL DEFENSE & EoUCATTONAL FUND is not part ot the National Association for the Advancement ol colore_d People although it
wai founoeJui itino strares itJcommitment to equal rightb. L0F has had lor over 25 years a separate Board, program, stall, ollice and budget.
o
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUNO, INC.
99 Hudson Street, New York, N.Y. 10013o(212) 2191900
Prof . Elizabeth Bartholet
October 25, 1985
Page 2
I am happy to angwer 4ny questions that you or interested
students may trlve. I look forward to hearing flom you soon
on this and-the other employment matter (:) we diEcussed.
Thanks so much for all Your heIP.
SincerelY,
Lani Guinier
LG/gr
Encls.
.,
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